Three weeks after Michael Crabtree tore his Achilles tendon, the 49ers continue to do some wide receiver shopping.
Today, the Niners will host four-year veteran Austin Collie for a workout, USA Today’s Mike Garafolo reported. Collie, 27, has sustained three highly publicized concussions since Nov. 7, 2010, and suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 of 2012. On Tuesday, Collie, a slot receiver who played his first four seasons with the Colts, had a workout with the Patriots.
Collie’s extensive injury history explains why he’s still seeking employment in mid-June, despite collecting 172 catches, 1,839 yards and 16 touchdowns from 2009-11.
In 2010, Collie (6-0, 204) lay motionless for about 10 minutes and left the field on a stretcher when he sustained his first concussion. Two weeks later, he returned but had to leave a game against the Patriots before halftime because of concussion symptoms. He subsequently missed another month and sustained his second concussion when he returned for a game against the Jaguars on Dec. 19, 2010.
In 2011, Collie was injury-free and had 54 catches, 514 yards and a touchdown. However, he sustained his third concussion in the second preseason game of 2012. In the season opener, Collie ruptured his patellar tendon.
Earlier this month, an anonymous NFC scout gave this assessment of Collie in a USA Today story: “It would be hard to establish him in a key role due to injuries, but as a fourth wide receiver who could step up in a pinch, there could be some value.”
Last week, the 49ers signed wide receiver Kassim Osgood, 33, who is primarily known for his three Pro Bowl selections as a special-teams ace. On Wednesday, they signed wideout Brandon Carswell, who sustained a knee injury of unknown severity in his practice debut.